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Home » Recipe Roundups » 7 days of healthy family meals

7 days of healthy family meals

By Taesha Butler April 30, 2019 (Updated March 22, 2022) 6 Comments

Servings4 cups
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Jump to Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

This meal plan is 7 days of healthy family meals! Family-friendly with every dish being veggie-loaded in delicious and easy ways! This plan is absolutely wonderful for kick starting how your family eats vegetables and gives you tools for keeping it going! Easy, healthy and delicious meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts included!). All recipes are gluten free and dairy-free.

Graphic of meals that are part of a 7 day veggie-loaded meal plan

What is veggie-loaded?

Veggie-loaded is my approach to getting vegetables into easy and healthy meals. Every meal, in fact! In creative ways that won’t leave you feeling blah about eating veggies.

The simple act of eating more veggies every day can do wonderful things for your health. Veggies fill your food and thus your body with more vitamins, minerals and nutrients. However, vegetables are also the one food group so many people have a difficult time getting excited about eating and are most likely to leave off their plate.

Which is why I started creating veggie-loaded recipes. Recipes that are loaded with vegetables that help makes veggies exciting again and get you jazzed about getting them into your life more. My veggie-loaded approach has helped many families (children and adults alike) change how they look at vegetables and how they eat them.

So, if veggie-loading is something you need in your life, I’ve created this 7 day meal plan to help you jumpstart your love affair with vegetables! It is full of easy recipes that won’t stress you out and that are not only tried-and-true but deeply loved by my veggie-loading community.

Tools for veggie-loading

You don’t HAVE to have anything fancier than a sharp knife to get veggies into your diet easily, but there are a few kitchen gadgets I reach for time and time again that make veggie-loading recipes easy-peasy!

1.     Food processor

I think I probably use my food processor on the daily. The “S” blade is awesome for finely (and oh-so quickly) chopping veggies to be sautéed or to be added to a sauce, meatloaf or meatballs. And the grating blade is perfect for shredding zucchini or carrots for baked goods, adding to oatmeal or quickly prepping veggies for a simple tossed salad!

2.     Blender

My blender lives on my kitchen counter, because it gets a daily workout too! I love starting the day with a veggie-loaded smoothie, as it sends everyone into the day on an easy and healthy foot! My blender is my favorite for making quick veggie-loaded blender recipes, like Oatmeal Green Smoothie Muffins or Flourless Chocolate Waffles (with Greens). I also love love love my blender for pureeing up veggie-loaded tomato sauce, homemade carrot and applesauce or even a veggie-loaded soup for dinner! You can get a fancy blender (I finally got a Vitamix after years of longing for one) or keep it simple. Whatever blender you opt for, I highly suggest one with multiple speeds to help you blend whatever veggie-goodness you throw into it to perfection.

3.   A grater.

Yep, a grater. Like a cheese grater…. because they don’t have to just be for cheese! If you prefer to keep the kitchen gadgets to a minimum or are trying to be budget-friendly, a grater is a great (and relatively quick) way to shred up veggies for baked good, to stir into tuna and chicken salads, add to meatballs and meatloaves or even add to sauces and soups! They are easy to clean. Easy to store. And do a bang-up job at getting veggies tiny enough to add into so many recipes!

This 7 day meal plan that gets veggies in at every meal is going to change how you eat! Family-friendly with every dish being veggie-loaded in delicious and easy ways!

Veggie-Loading Veggie Staples

With all the veggies there are in the world, at the grocery store and farmer’s market…. which ones should you always have on hand to help you veggie-load your meals? While this is going to ultimately be a personal list that will evolve with your own unique tastes and preferences, here are the veggies I always keep on hand and find I get the most veggie-loaded mileage out of!

*avocado

Okay, these are technically a fruit, but they are so low in sugar that many people enjoy them like a veggie! Loaded with creamy healthy fats, they are something I love to keep on hand whenever possible! Avocados are easy to add on top of soups, throw in smoothies, blend into baked goods, and on top of pretty much any dish for an extra punch of plant goodness!

*spinach

Spinach is such a powerhouse of a veggie and can be easily added to so many things! Full of vitamins A, B2, C and K, spinach also is a great source of magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, calcium and potassium. See? Serious goodness you want more of in your life!  I love to add spinach to all the smoothies, finely chop it up to add into burgers, meatballs, meatloaves, tuna or chicken salad and tomato sauce. I also am known to add spinach to blender pancakes and muffins…turning them a fun green color (and no, you can’t taste the spinach!)

 * zucchini

Zucchini is a really mellow veggie with a mild flavor and can easily disappear into a food, making it a great veggie to add to your veggie-loaded lifestyle! It is a great source of vitamin C and potassium and zucchini is rumored to be great for aiding in digestion! I love to add grated zucchini to baked goods, scrambled eggs or even into oatmeal for a veggie-loaded breakfast! I have also been known to add zucchini to smoothies and spiralize them to use in combination with/instead of pasta!

*carrots

Carrots are one of the sweeter veggies and definitely a great one to always have on hand! Carrots are chock-full of vitamin A, C, K, and B8, as well as folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese. I love to grate carrots up to add to green salads, to tuna/chicken salads, baked goods, meatballs, meatloaves or into tomato sauce, puree into applesauce or even occasionally throw into a smoothie!

Now that you understand the what, the why, the how and have a list of tools to help you do it on your own…here is a 7 day veggie-loaded meal plan to help you jumpstart your veggie-loading journey!

Key

  • P = Paleo
  • DF = dairy free
  • NF =nut free
  • EF = egg-free
  • GF = gluten free
  • Vg = vegetarian
  • V = vegan
Overhead on the Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Oatmeal served in a white bowl with a spoon just below it

Chocolate Zucchini Oatmeal

This healthy Chocolate Zucchini Oatmeal is not only a delicious but easy way to get vegetables in at breakfast!
View Recipe

Breakfast

  • Oatmeal Green Smoothie Muffins GF, DF, Vg, NF option, EF option, V option
  • Flourless Chocolate Waffles (with greens!) P, GF, DF, Vg
  • Instant Pot Morning Glory Oatmeal  GF, DF, EF, NF option, Vg, V
  • Banana-Spinach Pancake Pizza P, DF, EF, Vg, NF option
  • Almond Butter Blueberry Zucchini Muffins P, GF, DF
  • One-Bowl Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Muffins GF, DF
  • 5-Ingredient Bacon & Broccoli Egg Cups P, GF, DF, NF

Easy Homemade Applesauce (with veggies!)

Making your own delicious homemade applesauce is so easy! With just a few ingredients, this recipe is kid-friendly and packed with added veggies. Easy, wholesome and so tasty . They whole family is going to love this healthy recipe!
View Recipe

Snacks/smoothies

  • Easy Peasy Veggie-Loaded Applesauce P, GF, DF, EF, NF, Vg, V
  • 3-Ingredient Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather P, GF, DF, EF, NF, Vg, V
  • Sunrise Butternut Squash Smoothie P, GF, DF, EF, NF option, Vg, V
  • Creamy Cauliflower & Blueberry Smoothie P, GF, DF, EF, NF option, Vg, V option
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie (with greens!) GF, DF, EF, Vg, V option
  • Green Grinch Smoothies P, GF, DF, EF, NF option, Vg, V
  • Raw Avocado & Zucchini Hummus (bean-free) P, GF, DF, EF, NF, Vg, V

Green Grinch Smoothie

This Green Grinch Smoothie is a healthy holiday treat your kids will love! Easy to make and fun to drink, this smoothie is wildly kid-approved!
View Recipe

Lunch

  • Veggie-Loaded Spring Chicken Salad P, GF, DF, NF
  • 30-Minute Carrot Ginger Tuna Bites P, GF, DF
  • Veggie-Loaded Smashed Chickpea Salad GF, DF, EF, Vg
  • Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Soup P, GF, DF, EF, NF, Vg, V
  • Veggie-Loaded Avocado Tuna Salad P, GF, DF, EF, NF
  • Slow Cooker Butternut Squash + Apple Soup P, GF, NF, DF, EF, Vg, V
  • Glorious Green Veggie Chicken Burgers P, GF, NF, DF, EF
Overhead on the healthy Veggie-Loaded Spring Chicken Salad with carrot and cabbage on the sides

Veggie-Loaded Spring Chicken Salad

Veggie-Loaded Spring Chicken Salad is an easy-peasy, delicious recipe that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Simple to make, satisfying, and the perfect amount of crunchy from all kinds of veggie goodness, this is one quick dish that you’ll want to make again and again.
View Recipe
Overhead on the delicious 20-Minute Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice served in a pan with a wooden spoon inside the pan

20-Minute Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice

20-Minute Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice is easy, seriously delicious dinner that serves up oodles of flavor and a boatload of veggies! A healthy twist on a classic comfort food so many of us love, this easy peasy recipe is Paleo, Whole30 compliant, veggie-loaded and will completely dazzle your eyes and your tastebuds.
View Recipe

Dinner

  • Veggie-Loaded Mini Taco Meatloaves P, GF, DF, NF
  • Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli P, GF, DF, NF, EF
  • One-Pot Curry Lentil Soup GF, NF, DF, EF, Vg, V
  • Chicken & Cauliflower Meatballs P, GF NF, DF, EF with 30-Minute Veggie-Loaded Tomato Sauce P, GF NF, DF, EF, Vg, V
  • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry P, GF, DF, NF, EF, Vg option
  • Instant Pot Black Beans GF, NF, DF, EF, Vg, V
  • 20-Minute Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice P, GF, DF, NF, EF

Slow Cooker + Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry

Super fast to make, veggie-loaded and full of warm flavors, Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry is the perfect dinner any night of the week! Heavenly over cauliflower rice, jasmine rice or completely on its own, this dinner will dazzle your tastebud while saving you time in the kitchen.
View Recipe

One-Bowl Peanut Butter Carrot Blondies (vegan + gluten free)

These One-Bowl Peanut Butter Carrot Blondies are rich, super fudgy, and seriously delicious! Made with just 8 real food ingredients and in one bowl, too boot! Egg free, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, but a total crowd pleasing treat for all eating styles!
View Recipe

Desserts

  • One-Bowl Peanut Butter Carrot Blondies GF, DF, EF, Vg, V
  • One-Bowl Sweet Potato Brownies P, GF, DF, Vg
  • Chocolate Avocado Bread P, GF, DF, Vg
  • One-Bowl Paleo Almond Butter Zucchini Cookies P, GF, DF, Vg
  • Super Healthy Fudge Pops (with veggies!) P, GF, DF, EG, NF option, Vg and V option
  • Pumpkin Almond Butter Cookies P, GF, DF, Vg
  • Flourless Chocolate Protein Donuts (with veggies!) P, GF, DF, Vg
Are you looking for an easy (and maybe slightly sneaky) way to get more veggies into your family's diet? Try this super easy, kid-approved Hidden Veggie Sauce! Loaded with lots of different colorful veggies, it comes together in just 30 minutes! Perfect to make ahead for a quick, healthy dinner or whip up in the moment. Vegan, Whole30, Paleo too.
Print Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

Healthy Family Meal Plan: 30-Minute Vegetable Sauce

This vegetable sauce is a great way to get more veggies into your family! Healthy, easy and done in about 30 minutes!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: healthy dinner ideas, hidden vegeable sauce, vegan pasta sauce, whole30 sauce
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 84kcal
Author: Taesha Butler

Ingredients 

  • 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 cups zucchini grated
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots grated
  • 1/2 bell pepper deseeded and diced
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped spinach, loosely packed
  • 1/2 cup stock or broth
  • 1 tsp sea salt or to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder or to taste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions 

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a large sauce pot. Stir a few times to mix everything together.
  • Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once sauce starts to bubble, lower heat and cook UNCOVERED for 20 minutes.
  • Once done cooking, remove bay leaves.  Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce to preferred consistency. 
  • Taste and add extra salt, pepper or garlic powder if desired.
  • Serve over your favorite pasta, spiralized veggies or on pizza. Enjoy as is or add cooked ground meat or meatballs. 
  • Allow leftover sauce to completely cool before transferring it to an air-tight container. Store in fridge for up to a week or freeze to have on hand for months to come. 

Nutrition

Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 811mg | Potassium: 528mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 9869IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and may vary based on the product type, servings and other factors. If you are following a diet, please consult with a professional nutritionist or your doctor. Stay healthy!

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    Leave a comment & rate this recipe Cancel reply

    Did you make this recipe? So good, right? It would mean the world to me if you left a comment and star rating so that more people can see how delicious veggie-loading can be. Plus, it helps me to see what recipes you are all loving so I can make more like them.

    Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.

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    Comments

  1. jenny

    October 8, 2020 at 6:53 am

    4 stars
    I always spent my half an hour to read your articles with a cup of coffee.

    Reply
  2. Vikki Burdzel

    November 5, 2020 at 4:48 am

    I just want to mention I am just all new to blogs and truly loved this web-site. Almost certainly I’m going to bookmark your site . You certainly have awesome well written articles. Thanks a lot for sharing with us your web site.

    Reply
  3. Ashley

    December 13, 2021 at 8:32 pm

    Came across this on Pinterest and have spent the last half hour just scrolling through your blog! Great meal suggestions and I’m going to work on incorporating these into our next week.. it’s sometimes tough to think of more paleo meals and I get stuck in a rut. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      December 13, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      I’m so glad Ashley! Welcome!

      Reply
  4. Vanessa

    January 27, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    Hi! I have started exploring your website because it looks like a lot of interesting recipes. I’m looking from my phone, and this particular page is unfortunately overloaded with ads. Is there anything I can do on my end to reduce all the ads?

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      January 27, 2022 at 10:10 pm

      Hi Vanessa! Thank you for the feedback! I will take a look at this particular page and see if there is a reason there might be more ads popping up than other pages on my site. Ads are, however, the way I am able to do this blog as my full time and provide so much free content and free recipes! Perhaps I should start a paid membership site that is ad free?

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Taesha! I help busy people fall in love with healthy eating with my simple, family-friendly, veggie-loaded recipes. I believe vegetables can and SHOULD be delicious. Here, let me show you how!

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